Permutation-lock



JOHN KENNEDY WILLIAMS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

PERMUTATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application filed June 2, 1917. Serial No. 172,492.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN K. WrnLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Permutation-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a lock, and the object 1 that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the inven- I tion.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section, a lock constructed in accordance-With the present invention, parts appearing in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a lock embodying the improvements hereinafter described;

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately On'the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental horizontal section wherein the tumblers and. adjacent parts appear in elevation; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail showing the switch.

The numeral l denotes a support of any kind having an opening 2. Mounted on the support 1 is a fixed structure which may be denominated a carrier since it carries the movable parts of the lock. The carrier includes a back plate 3 engaging one side of the support 1, and a casing 4 projectin outwardly from the back plate, the casing 4 having a tubular extension 5 carrying a dial 6' provided with graduations 7. The back plate 3 has a neck 8- projecting into the opening 2. Located in the opening 2 and threaded onto the neck 8 or otherwise connected therewith is a receptacle 9. Disposed within the receptacle 9 and secured of construction hereinafter de thereto at opposite points are insulating strips 70, carrying inwardly rojectin tubular guides 71, preferably made of con ducting material. Conductors 12 extend through the rear wall of the receptacle 9 and are secured to the guides 71, these conductors being adapted to constitute a part of the ignition circuit of an internal com bustion engine. Conducting brushes 72 are mounted for right line sliding movement in the guides 71 and are advanced by compression springs 73 to bear upon the periphery of a commutator 10 having contacts 75, adapted to cotiperate with the brushes 72, the contacts 75 being connected by a conductor 76. A gasolene supply pipe 77 extends through the receptacle 9 and carries a valve 78 preferably of the rotary type, the stem of the valve being denoted by the numeral 79. The commutator 10 is secured to the stem 79 of the valve, so that when the valve is manipulated to control the flow of fluid through the pipe 77, the commutator 10 will be rotated also. At one end, the stem 79 of the valve 78 is provided with a button 80.

Located within the tubular extension 5 is a rotatable sleeve 14 journaled in the ,forward Wall ofthe casing 4 and provided at its rear extremity with a squared end 15. The forward end of the sleeve 14 is provided. with an enlarged head 16 substantially filling the extension 5 transversely and aiding in supporting the sleeve 14 for rotation, the head 16 abutting against the forward wall of the extension 5. In the head 16 are fashioned recesses 17. A knob 18 is journaled in the forward end of the extension 5 and is provided with a lug 19 adapted to be engaged with any of the recesses 17, selectively, for the purpose of changing the combination. The construction is such that when the knob 18 is rotated, the sleeve 14 will be rotated also. The knob -18 carries a radial finger 20 cotiperating with the graduations 7 of the dial 6.

The numeral 21 denotes a tumbler located within the casing 4. Disposed to the rear of the tumbler 21 is a tumbler 22, and at the rear of the tumbler 22 is a tumbler 23. The tumblers 21, 22 and 23 have peripheral notches 32 and are equipped with the usual projecting (pins 25, whereby rotation may be imparte from one tumbler to another. The tumbler 21 has a squared recess 24 receiving the squared end 15 of the sleeve 14,

so that when the sleeve 14 is rotated by means of the knob 18, the tumbler 21 will be rotated likewise.

The numeral 26 denotes a plunger mounted to slide endwise and to rotate in the knob 18 and in the sleeve 14, the tumblers 21, 22 and 23 being journaled for rotation on the plunger 26. At its forward end, the

, plunger 26 has a button or other projection 27 provided with a scale 81. A compression spring 28 surrounds the forward end of the plunger 26, one extremity of the spring 28 engaging the knob 18, and the other end of the spring engaging the button 27. The plunger 26 is provided with av reduced rear end 29 defining a shoulder 30 in the plunger. The end 29 of the plunger 26 is provided with a jaw 31 of any desired form, the construction being such that when the plunger 26 is pushed inwardly, the jaw 31 will engage with the button 80 of the valve stem 7 9 and manipulate the valve 78 to open and to close the pipe 77, and to rOtate the commutator 10 as well. Mounted on the forward faceof the back plate 3 are guides 33 between which is mounted for right line sliding movement, a detent 34. The detent 34 is drawn in onedirection by means of a retractile spring 35 preferably assembled with the casing 4. The detent 34 is supplied with a key hole slot including an enlarged part 36 and a reduced extension 37. When the reduced end 29 of the plunger 26 lies in the reduced extension 37 of the key hole slot in the detent 34, then the shoulder 30 on the plunger 26, coacting with the detent 34, prevents the plunger 26 from being pushed inwardly by means of the button 27. When, however, the detent 34 has been moved to the right (Fig. 3) by a means to be described hereinafter, then the plunger 26 can be pushed rearwardly through the enlarged portion 36 of the key hole slot in the detent. V

The numeral 38 denotes an arm mounted to swing transversely of the plunger 26 on a hub 39 constituting a part of the rear tumbler 23. The arm 38 has a radial slot 40, and the detent 34 is provided with a pin or projection 41 slidably received in the slot. Mounted on the forward face of the back plate 3 is a stop 42 wherewith the arm 38 engages when the detent 34 is pulled to the left (Fig. 3) by the action of the retra-ctile spring 35. Pivoted at 44 to the outer end of the arm 38 is a latch 43 coacting with the edges of the tumblers 21, 22 and 23, and adapted to engage in the edges of notches 32 in the tumblers, under circumstances which will be described hereinafter. A spring 45 is secured to the arm 38 and bears upon the latch 43, so as to cause the latch to coact with the peripheries of the tumblers 21, 22 and 23. i

' Let it be supposed that the constituent elements of the device are arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Then the cotiperation between the parts is as follows:

The detent 34 has been moved by the spring 35 until the detent occupies the position of Fig. 3. Under such circumstances, the reduced end 29 of the plunger 26 is received in the reduced portion 37 of the key hole slot in the detent 34 and, owing to the presence of the shoulder 30 on the plunger 26, the plunger cannot be pushed rearwardly to cause the jaw 31 of the plunger to engage the button 80 of the valve stem 79. As a consequence, the button 80 of the valve cannot be manipulated to open or to close the pipe 77. lVhen the detent 34 has been drawn to the left (Fig. 3) by the action of the spring 35, the pin 41 on the detent, coacting with the slot 40 in the arm 38, swings the arm 38 over until the arm engages the stop 42. A person who is ignorant of the combination, may rotate the sleeve 14 and the tumblers 21, 22 and 23, by means of the button 18, without being able to line up the notches 32 in the tumblers to receive the pivoted latch 43 which is carried by the arm 38.

WVhen a person who is acquainted with the combination, wishes to manipulate the valve button 80, then the desired combination is set up by rotating the sleeve 14 through the medium of the knob 18, the finger 20 006perating with the graduations 7, and the pins 25 in the tumblers 21, 22 and 23 coaoting in the usual manner. The operation of permutation locks including tumblers provided with interacting pins of the kind shown at 25 is common and well known and need not be gone into in detail. The tumbler 23, however, is set first, the-tumbler 22 is .set next, and finally the tumbler 21 is set, thus lining up thenotches 32 in the various tum blers. Thev latch 43, under the action of the spring 45, engages in the. notches 32 of the tumblers, and thus the arm 38 is connected with the tumblers, so that when the tumblers are rotated by the sleeve 14 and the knob 18, the arm 38 will swing with the hub 39 of the rear tumbler 23 as a point of pivotal support. \Vhen the arm 38 is swung as aforesaid, the pin 41, moving in the slot 40 of the arm 38, slides the detent 34 to the right (Fig. 3) until the enlarged portion 36 of the key hole slot in the detent is so presented with respect to the shoulder 30 on the plunger 26 that the enlarged forward end of the plunger can pass through the part 36 of the key hole slot. The plunger 26 is then pushed rearw-ardly, the spring 28 being compressed, and the jaw 31 being engaged with the button 80 of the valve. By rotating the plunger 26 through the medium of the button 27, the valve stem 79 will be rotated, to regulate the passage of fuel through the pipe 77. Since the commutator 10 is connected with the valve stem 79 to rotate therewith, the contacts 75 on the commutator 10 will be brought into and out of engagement with the spring advanced brushes 72, thereby closing and opening the circuit of which the conductors 12 constitute a part. The invention therefore comprises a means whereby when the fuel supply through the pipe 77 is cut off,- theigniy tion circuit will be opened, and wherebywhen fuel is free to flow through the pipe 77, the ignition circuit will be closed. When i the pressure on the button 26 is relieved, the

spring 28 slides the plunger 26-outwardly into the position of Fig. 1, the jaw 31 thus being detached from the button 80.

It is to be noted that, at this point, the latch 43 still remains engaged with the notches 32 in the tumblers 23, 22 and 21. The operator now rotates the sleeve 14 by means of the knob 18 until the-arm 38 engages the stop 42. A continued rotation of the sleeve 14 will rotate the tumblers 22, 23 and 21, but will not swing the arm 38, since the latter has been engaged by the stop 42.

Since the edges of the notches 32 in the tumblers 21, 22 and 23 are inclined slightly, the latch 43, which is held in the notches 32 by the relatively light spring 45, will ride out of the notches and bear upon the edge of the rearmost tumbler 23. The structure is now restored to such a condition that the operation which consists in turning the button 80 of the valve by means of the plunger 26 can be carried out only by setting u again the known combination.

It has been pointed out that the outer face of the button 27 on the plunger 26 is provided with a scale 81. The purpose of, this scale is to enable the operator to know when the valve 7 8 is opened or closed, and when the circuit comprising the conductors 12 and the brushes 72 is closed or open. By way of example, the numeral 1 of the scale 81 may be lined up with the numeral 1 of the graduations 7 on the dial 6, as shown in Fig. 2, and then the operator will be assured that the valve 78 is open and that the circuit comprising the'conductors 12 is closed. The remaining numerals of the scale 81 serve merely as dummies, to confuse a person who is not thoroughly conversant with the .operation of the structure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a carrier; a sleeve rotatable in the carrier; an operating plunger mounted in the sleeve for longitudinal sliding movement and for rotation; tumblers journaled on the plunger at the inner end of the sleeve and provided with interacting elements whereby rotation may be imparted from tumbler to tumbler, one of the tumblers being operatively connected with the inner end of the sleeve; a detent coacting with the plunger and independent of the sleeve to limit the inward sliding movement of the plunger; means for mounting the detent for right-line sliding movement on the carrier; mechanism for actuating the detent to permit the inward sliding movement of the plunger; and means releasably engaged with the tumblers for actuating said mechanism.

2. In a device of theclass described, a carrier; a sleeve rotatable in the carrier; an operating plunger longitudinally slidable in the sleeve and provided with a shoulder; tumblers supported for rotation and provided with interacting elements whereby rotation may be imparted from tumbler t0 tumbler, one of the tumblers being operatively connected with the sleeve; a slidably mounted detent having a key-hole slot including an enlarged'portion and areduced extension, the shoulder on the plunger 00- acting with the reduced extension of the key-hole slot to limit the inward sliding movement of the plunger, theshoulder bei-ng movable through the enlarged portion of the key-hole slot; an arm mounted to swing transversely of the plunger; inter engaging elements on the arm and the detent whereby the detent will be actuated when the arm is swung; and a movable latch carried by the arm, the tumblers having notches with which the latch coacts. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afli-xed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KENNEDYWILLIAMS. Witnesses H. GZVCLIFTOVN, 1 T. J. EPr Es. 

